Hibiscus plant named ‘HIQ 1603’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘HIQ 1603’, characterized by its upright, mounding and bushy plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large double, bright red-colored flowers; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HIQ 1603’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘HIQ 1603’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractiveand long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August,2009 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2007-1511, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2007-1958, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inSabro, Denmark in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark sinceSeptember, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HIQ 1603’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HIQ 1603’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, mounding and bushy plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large double, bright red-colored flowers.    -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Adonicus Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,836.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hibiscus differ fromplants of ‘Adonicus Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are double in form        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Adonicus Red’ are single in form.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Adonicus Red’ differ slightly        in flower color as plants of ‘Adonicus Red’ have darker        red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HIQ 1603’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘HIQ 1603’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typicaldissected flower of ‘HIQ 1603’ showing the upper surfaces of the petals.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn in 13-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time nine weeks afterplanting and plants were 26 weeks old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘HIQ 1603’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2007-1511, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2007-1958, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at ambient            and soil temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at ambient            and soil temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight            weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten            weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close            to 158A, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Container plant; upright, mounding            and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about            four to seven primary branches each with about five to seven            secondary branches developing per plant; pinching enhances            lateral branch development.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23 cm            to 43 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25 cm            to 45 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development.        -   Luster.—Semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 137A; color becoming closer to            139A with development; at the internodes, close to 137B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 197A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.        -   Length.—About 10 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm to 9 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation            prominent.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation,            close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137A; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to N138B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 137C.        -   Leaf stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two at the base of            the petiole, opposite. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double type flowers arranged singly at            terminal leaf axils; uniform, continuous and freely            flowering habit with numerous flowers developing per plant;            flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during            the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in            the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants            begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks after pinching.        -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for            about three days; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 13 cm to 16 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about            three days. Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 4 cm            to 5 cm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to N34B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; petals            slightly imbricate. Length: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Width:            About 4 cm to 5 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture,            upper surface: Glabrous; rough with a velvety appearance.            Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, rough with a satiny            appearance. Luster, upper surface: Matte. Luster, lower            surface: Moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 41A; towards the base, close to 45A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 44C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 40A; towards the base, close to 46B; with            development, main color becoming closer to 40C and towards            the base, close to 46C; venation, close to 37C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 44C; with development, color            becoming closer to 44D; venation, close to 43D.        -   Petaloids.—Arrangement: About 20 to 40 in numerous whorls;            petaloids imbricate. Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm, Width:            About 2 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture,            upper surface: Glabrous; rough with a velvety appearance.            Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, rough with a satiny            appearance. Luster, upper surface: Matte. Luster, lower            surface: Moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 41A; towards the base, close to 45A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 40C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 40A; towards the base, close to 46A; with            development, main color becoming closer to 40C and towards            the base, close to 46C; venation, close to 37C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 44C; with development, color            becoming closer to 44D; venation, close to 43D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a            campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.            Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous,            rough. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, smooth. Luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 138C. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 139D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 138B. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 139C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About six in a            single whorl subtending the calyx and forming a star-shaped            epicalyx. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 141A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:            Sparsely pubescent. Luster: Slightly glossy. Color: Close to            138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            more than 100. Filament length: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Filament            color: Close to 43C. Anther shape: Round to ovate. Anther            length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 19A. Amount of            pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 20A. Gynoecium:            Pistil length: About 5.5 cm. Staminal column texture:            Smooth, waxy. Staminal column color: Close to 4D; towards            the base, overlain with close to N34A; mid-section, overlain            with close to N35A; towards the apex, overlain with close to            34A. Style length: Five-parted, about 4 mm to 5 mm. Style            color: Close to 4D. Stigma appearance: Five rounded stigma            pads. Stigma pad color: Close to 40A. Ovary color: Close to            4D.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: Typically about 1 to 15 develop.            Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture: Rough.            Color: Close to 202A.        -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 2 cm to            3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Smooth,            leathery. Color: Close to 138A or 145A.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to have tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘HIQ 1603’ asillustrated and described.